How do you substitute almond flour for all purpose flour

Many gluten-free, paleo, and keto recipes on the internet substitute almond flour for regular plain.

Table of Contents Show

What is almond flour?
Coconut flour
Coconut flour and tapioca flour
Plantain flour
Cricket flour
Sunflower seed flour
Cashew flour
Make your own gluten-free flour blend
Macadamia flour
Eggs and flour substitutes
Cassava flour
All-purpose flour
Whole wheat flour
How can you make your own almond flour?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular flour instead of almond flour?
So, can you use regular flour as a substitute for almond flour?
Can I substitute coconut flour for almond flour?
Can I replace almond flour with rice flour?

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Almonds are one of history's oldest cultivated foods and are even mentioned in the Old Testament. The almond is native to the Middle East and can be found in countries such as Turkey and Syria. The nut would eventually spread throughout Africa and Europe.

Flours made using nuts were also first produced in the Middle East and later introduced to Europe. The Italians were the first Europeans to be introduced to almond flour in the form of a Middle Eastern cookie called the Maccarone. These cookies became a sensation throughout France thanks to Catherine de Medici and would become known as Macaroons.

Unless you do a lot of gluten-free baking, it is rather unlikely that you will just have almond flour lying about your house.

Nut flours are tricky to work with as they absorb a different ratio of liquids compared to regular flours.

They have no gluten and do not create the same finished product. Where possible, it is better to switch out almond flour for another nut flour as they will react the most similarly.

What is almond flour?

To make almond flour, almonds are blanched and they have their skins removed. It is then finely ground into small particles. This is commonly used in French macarons, cookies, and quick bread.

Almond flour is high in fat, lending moisture, and lightness to baked goods. It contains a decent amount of protein and healthy fats while being lower in carbohydrates compared to wheat flour.

It will not act in the same way as traditional flour and so cannot be used as a direct substitute.

Almond meal is something you are likely to see too, and you would be forgiven for thinking that they are the same. Almond meal is made with the almond skins left on, and it is a much coarser grind than almond flour.

In some recipes, it will not matter too much which you decide to use. The textures are different and will create a different mouth feel in your finalized product.

For more delicate recipes, such as light cakes and macarons, we suggest using almond flour.

Coconut flour

If you wish to substitute almond flour for coconut flour, you are likely to need to alter your entire recipe. This is because the flour can absorb anywhere from 5 to 8 times the volume of moisture that almond flour can.

This is because coconut flour is a dehydrated substance and so will reabsorb any moisture it comes into contact with.

Generally speaking, this means that you will have to include more liquid, and potentially some additional eggs, into your recipe.

If you only have coconut flour to hand, we suggest looking for a recipe that originally includes that.

The number of modifications you will need to make is so great it means that coconut flour is not the most efficient substitute.

We recommend using ¼ cup coconut flour for every cup of almond flour your recipe states. You are likely to need to include an additional egg too.

Coconut flour and tapioca flour

The addition of tapioca flour to the coconut flour provides a stretchy quality that mimics that of traditional flour containing gluten. It primarily serves as a binding agent in baked goods.

In place of 2 cups of almond flour, you should use 1 heaped cup of tapioca flour and 1 scant cup of coconut flour.

You are likely to need to double the number of eggs specified in a recipe originally using all-purpose flour. If you don’t want to do this, you can play around with other wet ingredients such as apple sauce and mashed banana.

Plantain flour

This is made by drying out green and unripe plantains. Once dried, they are ground to a fine powder and this is plantain flour. These are not sweet and provide a source of resistant starch as well as carbohydrates.

This also absorbs more moisture than almond flour, and you may need to adjust the liquid content of your recipe to create a good result.

Cricket flour

This is steadily growing in popularity in recent years. Cricket flour is high in protein and B12 and is a source of all essential amino acids. It is commonly used as a protein powder, but some people use it in baking.

YOu can replace up to one-quarter of the flour in your recipe with cricket flour. This will result in the same appearance and texture as a baked good made with regular flour, with the addition of a lot of protein.

Crickets come from the Arthropoda phylum, much like crustaceans. This means that people with a shellfish allergy may also have a reaction to crickets.

Sunflower seed flour

This is a highly popular nut and gluten-free substitute for almond flour. It has a very similar consistency and will interact with the rest of your ingredients in the same way as almond flour.

You may need to use half the quantity of baking soda that your recipe states.

There is a small chance that your dish will have a green tint when baked. This is due to the reactions that take place between the sunflower seeds and the baking soda.

If you incorporate a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice into the uncooked batter, this should impede the reaction.

Another way to do this is by doubling the quantity of cream of tartar included in the recipe. This means that your dish is likely to look the same as if it was made with almond flour.

Pumpkin seed flour will also work in the same way. These can be used as a 1:1 substitute for almond flour in your recipes.

Cashew flour

Cashews are naturally sweet and work beautifully in sweet baked goods. It is made by simply blending cashews until they form a fine powder. Do not over blend as this will result in the formation of cashew butter.

This can be used as a 1:1 substitute for almond flour. It will give your dish a rich and creamy taste, making anything seem 10 times more indulgent.

Make your own gluten-free flour blend

There are many commercially produced gluten-free flour blends available on the market. These all vary in effectiveness, but if you prefer you could make your own.

The quantities noted below create the best gluten-free flour blend we have ever tried.

All you need is 2 cups of rice flour, ⅓ cup tapioca starch, ⅔ cup potato starch, and 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum.

Be aware that this flour may take on more moisture than almond flour, meaning you need to adjust the recipe.

This blend is ideal for baked goods, including cookies and cakes. We recommend storing any excess flour in an airtight container for future use.

Macadamia flour

This is a lower carbohydrate substitution for almond flour. This makes it popular for people following the Paleo diet. It results in a very similar final product to those made using almond flour.

You can use macadamia flour as a direct substitute for almond flour. This means that if your recipe calls for 2 cups of almond flour, you should use 2 cups of macadamia.

Eggs and flour substitutes

As we mentioned earlier, many flour substitutes are likely to require a greater deal of moisture than all-purpose flour.

For this reason, recipes made with almond flour tend to include 4+ eggs to help create a solid structure when baked.

If you have decided to substitute almond flour for one of the options listed below, we recommend halving the number of eggs needed.

Cassava flour

This is a very popular flour substitute on the paleo diet. It is made by peeling and drying a cassava root. This is then ground into a fine powder which closely resembles the appearance of wheat flour.

It can be used in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute for almond flour. As with coconut flour, we would highly recommend looking for a recipe originally including cassava flour.

This will create a much better final result, but this can be used as an almond flour substitute in a pinch.

Oat flour

This can be bought at most stores but is also incredibly easy to make yourself at home.

All you need to do is blend oats in a high powered blender until a fine powder is formed. 1 cup of oats will make ¾ cup of oat flour.

You can get standard and gluten-free oats, meaning that this flour is suitable for a wide range of dietary specifications.

All-purpose flour

This is not a gluten-free substitute but will work in place of almond flour if necessary. When substituting for almond flour, we recommend halving the quantity of flour needed.

This means that if your recipe requires 2 cups of almond flour, you should use 1 cup of all-purpose flour.

Whole wheat flour

This is not a great substitute for almond flour as it is much more dense. It needs combining with all-purpose flour before use.

If your recipe needs 2 cups of almond flour, you will substitute ½ cup each of whole wheat and all-purpose flours.

How can you make your own almond flour?

You will need 8 ounces of blanched almonds. Place these into a high powered blender and grind to a fine powder.

Stop once you reach this point, as overprocessing will lead to the creation of almond butter.

The flour should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This can last for up to a year in this way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular flour instead of almond flour?

Almond flour is made by grinding down sweet almonds. It adds a pang of nuts into the overall flavor of whatever it is you’re baking, so a lot of people like using it in certain recipes.

But more than that, almond flour is gluten-free and is way lower in regards to the levels of carbs, so for some people, using almond flour instead of other types of flour is a dietary need.

For example, those with celiac disease, or those that are avoiding carbs for any reason, will most likely be using almond flour in their baked goods.

So, can you use regular flour as a substitute for almond flour?

If you aren’t restricted by any dietary needs, then the answer is yes, you can use regular flour instead of almond flour.

In fact, regular flour can be used for almost any recipe, so it should never be a problem! And if you needed the nutty pang of flavor, you can also add your own nuts or go down other routes, so it shouldn’t be a problem in the slightest!

However, if you needed almond flour due to it being gluten-free and low in carbs, then regular flour will not work as an alternative option, because regular flour contains gluten, and it is also higher in carbs.

Can I substitute coconut flour for almond flour?

The answer to this is yes! Almond flour is a great substitute alternative to coconut flour, and the same goes for the other way around. Both of these flours can often be used interchangeably, and are the main substitute option for each other!

However, coconut flour has a lot more absorption than almond flour does, so you will have to adjust the recipe quantities accordingly in order to achieve the same result as originally planned.

For every ounce of coconut flour that the recipe indicates (which is around a quarter of a cup), you should use a full cup of almond flour. So it takes more almond flour than it would take coconut flour, in order to obtain the same levels of absorbency for the recipe.

You should also decrease the amount of liquid used, so that there’s less liquid for the almond flour to absorb, compared to the amount you could use with the coconut flour. It’s all about trial and error, so feel free to experiment with it!

Can I replace almond flour with rice flour?

Rice flour can be used as a good alternative to almond flour, and it would work on a 1 to 1 ratio, meaning you would use the same amount of flour, regardless of which one you are using. It also works the other way around.

It’s an especially good alternative when it comes to the coating of baked or fried foods.